The On Olive development in St. Louis’s Grand Center area, part of a larger transformative project initiated by local philanthropist Emily Rauh Pulitzer, includes two apartment buildings and twenty-seven single-family homes. As part of a design competition aimed at revitalizing the area, the yuacollab team embraced the challenge of designing an innovative, sustainable, and architecturally distinctive home. Their resulting design turns a standard city lot into a standout home that fits right in with the broader vision of a modern, diverse, and vibrant community.
Although the architecture of each home has its own character, the front facade of this home blends in with that of its neighbors in both scale and presence, promoting a sense of community. The front yard invites casual conversations with neighbors, and the offset front door gives a hint of the unexpected layout waiting within. The first section of the home is designed for socializing, with a well-lit open kitchen in between the dining and living room space. The living room opens to the backyard deck, expanding the space for conversation and entertainment in pleasant weather.
At the rear of this space is the gallery, an interior extension with bifold doors opening to a healing garden on one side and a paved hardscape with fire pit on the other. The gallery acts as both a visual anchor and a functional divider, encouraging movement while offering moments of calm between more active areas. This transitionary space also creates intentional privacy for the bedrooms at the rear of the home. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and shares a quiet lounge space overlooking the healing garden. At the back of the home, a mudroom and laundry room conveniently connect the living spaces to the garage. A large backyard extends from the firepit area along the side of the home, a perfect space for the family dog or more interactive activities while entertaining.
Built for both private moments and community interaction, intentional design choices bring flexible living to life in this home. The creative use of space, both indoors and out, throughout the property reinforces a suburban lifestyle that is both adaptive and personal. From the offset front door to the shared lounge at the back of the home, each element supports a layered experience of home – welcoming, restful, and uniquely livable. Every aspect of this home embodies the spirit of the On Olive development: forward-thinking, community-minded, and grounded in thoughtful design.